Stifel Honors Stifel U.S. Ski Team Athletes, Staff With 2026 Stifel Awards

U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Stifel announce the 2026 Stifel U.S. Ski Team Stifel Award winners for the 2025-26 season. Winners in each category were selected through a voting process by their teammates and staff.

Now in its fourth year, the Stifel Awards celebrate athletes and staff members from across the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. Awards range from Athlete of the Year to Best Comeback, Most Improved and Rookie of the Year, as well as Coach of the Year in each sport. Each recipient is awarded a cash prize courtesy of Stifel, title partner across eight sports under the Stifel U.S. Ski Team flag.

“Stifel is proud to continue recognizing the outstanding athletes and staff of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team through the annual Stifel End of Year Awards,” said Ron Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel. “Our ‘Where Success Meets Success’ motto continues to reflect the dedication and excellence of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and we’re grateful for the opportunity to celebrate their achievements while continuing to grow the impact of these awards each year.”

“The winners of the Stifel Awards are incredibly deserving of this recognition for everything they accomplished throughout the 2025-26 season,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport Anouk Patty. “This season was marked by outstanding performances across all of our teams and that success would not be possible without the dedication of the athletes, coaches and staff working behind the scenes every day. We’re grateful to Stifel for continuing to celebrate and support the people who make these achievements possible.”

Award Winners

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team

• Athlete of the Year: Lindsey Vonn, Ryan Cochran-Siegle

• Rookie of the Year: Elisabeth Bocock, Jevin Palmquist

• Most Improved: Mary Bocock, Kyle Negomir

• Best Comeback: Lindsey Vonn, Erik Arvidsson

• Coach of the Year: Kip Spangler

Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team

• Athlete of the Year: Jessie Diggins, Ben Ogden

• Rookie of the Year: Sammy Smith, Murphy Kimball

• Most Improved: Kendall Kramer, Zak Ketterson

• Best Comeback: Novie McCabe, Ben Ogden

• Coach of the Year: Matt Whitcomb

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team

• Athlete of the Year: Grace Henderson, Mac Forehand

• Best Comeback: Rell Harwood, Hunter Hess

• Most Improved: Avery Krumme, Konnor Ralph

• Rookie of the Year: Avery Krumme, Henry Townshend

• Coach of the Year: Ryan Wyble

Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team - aerials

• Athlete of the Year: Chris Lillis

• Rookie of the Year: Kyra Dossa

• Most Improved: Connor Curran

• Best Comeback: Winter Vinecki

• Coach of the Year: Walter Crijanovschi

Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team - moguls

• Athlete of the Year: Olivia Giaccio

• Rookie of the Year: Abby McLarnon

• Most Improved: Landon Wendler

• Best Comeback: Liz Lemley

• Coach of the Year: Bryon Wilson

Stifel U.S. Nordic Combined Team

• Athlete of the Year: Alexa Brabec, Niklas Malacinski

• Best Comeback: Tara Geraghty-Moats, Erik Lynch

• Most Improved: Alexa Brabec, Niklas Malacinski

• Coach of the Year: Emil Vilhelmsen

Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team

• Athlete of the Year: Patrick Halgren

• Rookie of the Year: Meg Gustafson

• Most Improved: Anna Soens

Stifel U.S. Ski Jumping Team

• Athlete of the Year: Annika Belshaw, Kevin Bickner

• Best Comeback: Josie Johnson, Kevin Bickner

• Most Improved: Sandra Sproch, Jason Colby

• Rookie of the Year: Josie Johnson, Jason Colby

• Coach of the Year: Karl Vegard Andersen

Demonstrating their dedication to the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, the Stifel Awards underscore their commitment to supporting athletes both on and off the slopes.